From Beatdom #7 Writers and alcohol have gone hand in hand since the advent of the written word. Absinthe fueled many a poet, Bukowski made a career out of being a barfly, and Kerouac showed us the ugly side of a love affair with booze. There is a brewery in Maryland named Flying Dog that has taken this relationship to new levels. It’s not hard to see just by looking at their produce. Wild Gonzo art and a quote from its master adorn...

There has always been a little confusing surrounding Beatdom’s purpose. We call ourselves a Beat Generation-themed literary journal, but we also publish poetry and short fiction from writers of today. We really are interested in tapping into the modern incarnation of “Beat,” even though we don’t really know whether or not “Beat” is still alive. We do, however, like to think that the Beats...

Born on June 3rd, 1926, Allen Ginsberg is a man who really needs no introduction. His impact on poetry and art in the last half century has been immeasurable. Ginsberg’s “Howl” is one of the most famous poems of all time, and his work in aiding his friends during their careers helped further the cause of art and literature in the late 20th century. To read more about Allen Ginsberg, please see the Beatdom...

Sorry for the lateness of this post… I’ve been busy putting together Beatdom #7 and simply didn’t have the time to write even a few words until today. Peter Orlovsky passed away May 30th with poet Anne Walden by his side, and a photo of his long-time partner, Allen Ginsberg, on a wall near his bed. Orlovsky was more than Ginsberg’s lover. He was a poet, teacher and traveller in his own right. I suggest that we...